BackgroundThe luminal subtype of breast cancer is sensitive to anti-estrogen therapy and shows a better prognosis than that of human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2)-enriched or triple-negative breast cancer. However, the luminal type of breast cancer is heterogeneous and can have aggressive clinical features. We investigated the clinical implications of single hormone receptor negativity in a luminal B HER2-negative group.MethodsWe collected luminal B HER2-negative breast cancer data that were estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) positive, Ki 67 high (>14 %), and HER2 negative and divided them into the ER- and PR-positive group and the ER- or PR-negative group. We analyzed the clinical and pathological data and survival according to ER or PR loss.ResultsThere were no statistical differences in TNM stage, breast and axillary operative methods, or number of tumors between the ER- and PR-positive group and ER- or PR-negative group. However, the ER- or PR-negative group was associated with older age (≥45 years), higher histological grade, lower Bcl-2 expression, and far higher Ki 67 (>50 %). Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were shorter in the ER- or PR-negative group than that in the ER- and PR-positive group (p = 0.0038, p = 0.0071).ConclusionsER- or PR-negative subgroup showed worse prognosis than ER- and PR-positive subgroup in the luminal B HER2-negative group. We could consider the negativity of ER or PR as prognostic marker in luminal B HER2-negative subtype of breast cancer.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12957-016-0999-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Purpose: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive subtypes of breast cancer. However, we have often experienced that triple positive breast cancer (TPBC) shows more aggressive clinical features than TNBC. In this retrospective study, we aimed to examine the differences in clinical courses between TNBC and TPBC. Methods: Using medical records and clinical data, we selected patients with breast cancer who met the criteria for the two groups, TNBC and TPBC, based on the expression or absence of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2). We then compared these groups with respect to clinical and pathological variables, such as patient age at diagnosis, TNM stage, number of tumors, involvement of resection margin, operation methods, histologic grade (HG), nuclear grade (NG), and lymphatic invasion (LI). We also compared the disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes between the groups. Results: Seventy patients with TNBC and 91 with TPBC were identified among a total of 628 patients. In univariate analysis, TPBC was significantly more frequently associated with lower HG (p= 0.001), lower NG (p= 0.003), LI (p= 0.001), and a Ki-67 index ≤ 20% (p< 0.001). In multivariate analysis, a lower Ki-67 index (p= 0.031) and LI (p= 0.022) were identified as significant and independent factors contributing to DFS. In a survival analysis over time, the TPBC showed a worse OS than TNBC 5 years post-treatment for breast cancer. Consequently, the TPBC group had definite worse 10-year DFS (p= 0.012) and showed relatively lower OS rate (p= 0.058), than the TNBC group. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate considerable differences in long-term post-treatment survival of patients with TPBC and TNBC. Further studies to determine the proper management of both types of breast cancer and an accurate prognostic evaluation method are warranted.

No abstract

Purpose: Axillary lymph node status is an important prognostic factor in breast cancer. Axillary lymph nodes can be evaluated using fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or core needle biopsy (CNB) before surgery. This study compared the accuracy and false-negative rates between FNAC and CNB in patients with breast cancer who either did or did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Methods: The clinicopathological factors of the patients were analyzed retrospectively, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, false-positive and false-negative rates, and accuracy of FNAC (n = 27) and CNB (n = 23) were compared. Results: Regardless of whether or not NAC was performed, the CNB evaluation of the metastatic axillary lymph nodes had a 100.0% sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and accuracy, except for one case with an inadequate sample. In the FNAC group, the false-negative rate was higher in patients with breast cancer who received NAC before evaluating the lymph nodes (9.1% vs. 7.7%). Moreover, ultrasound imaging was the most sensitive imaging modality that can detect the suspicious axillary lymph node. Conclusion: CNB was more effective in evaluating the axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer than FNAC and was performed without major complications.